The Hisle Park Apartments were built to give young adults leaving foster care a safe place to land. But lately, residents say the only thing consistent is the sound of sirens. Portsmouth Police have been called to the complex again and again — and this week was no exception.
Day One: Gun Threat in the Apartments
- Around 1 p.m., officers rushed to Hisle Park after reports that a man threatened a woman with a gun in a Thomas Avenue apartment.
- Police found the suspect still on scene and took him into custody.
- The man was booked into the Scioto County Jail on a charge of aggravated menacing.
Residents say this latest scare adds to growing fears that the “transitional housing” meant to help young people is instead turning into a magnet for chaos.
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Day Two: Jail Returnee Finds His Apartment Ransacked
The very next day, officers were back again after a tenant said he came home from jail to find his place destroyed and his PS5 stolen.
Here’s what he told police:
- He’d been arrested for domestic violence and left his keys with a front desk worker so someone could pick up birthday supplies for his child.
- When he returned, the freezer was open, items were scattered, and his gaming console and controllers were gone.
- He believed members of the “400 Gang” might’ve been involved — but decided not to file charges, saying he didn’t want to cause “a bigger issue.”
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Day Three: Another Scare, Another Call
By the next day, officers were back again.
- A woman said a man banged on her windows after allegedly threatening her friend with a gun.
- She refused to give her friend’s name, and neighbors told police they hadn’t heard a thing.
- The man was reportedly driving a white van, but officers couldn’t locate him.
“We Don’t Feel Safe Anymore”
Hisle Park was supposed to represent a fresh start — a place for young adults aging out of foster care to build stable lives. Instead, police reports show a pattern of violence, threats, and fear.
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The Bigger Picture
Community advocates say this kind of housing only works if it’s properly supported — with on-site staff, security, and conflict resolution resources. Without that, the line between “safe transition” and “daily crisis” gets blurred fast.
👉 For now, Hisle Park remains under watch — not just by police, but by a community wondering when its promise of safety will finally be kept.
